ˈmelənə̇n noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary melan- + -in
1. : any of various dark brown or black pigments of animal or plant structures (as skin, hair, the choroid coat, or raw potato when exposed to air)
2. : any of various pigments that are similar to the natural melanins, are obtained especially by enzymatic oxidation of tyrosine or dopa, and are believed to be quinonoid polymers derived from indole